crime

Two 18-year-old boys arrested over Sukiya robberies

35 Comments

Police said Saturday they have arrested two youths in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, for stealing 1 million yen from Japanese fast food restaurant chain Sukiya.

The boys, both aged 18, were taken in for questioning following their arrest, at which point they allegedly confessed to the crime, TV Asahi reported.

According to police, they also said they had read online message-boards about theft which informed them that Sukiya was an easy mark. The boys also confessed to planning robberies at other Sukiya branches within the city and in neighboring prefectures, TV Asahi reported.

During police questioning, the boys reportedly told investigators that they had been involved in other robberies since August of this year. A police spokesman was quoted as saying that the boys said they wanted money for having fun and playing pachinko.

© Japan Today

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35 Comments
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BlueWitch, I do remember this horrible news, it was not here in Tokyo, maybe down in Nagoya or Kyushu, but I did not know that young scum bag had been given the death penalty, or is in jail facing the death penalty, either case time to change these laws and make good examples of horrible monsters in our societies by letting them know they are old enough to get the death penalty, right??

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@CrazyJoe

You can commit a murder in Japan at age 18-19 and can be executed for it . Nagayama Norio shot to death 4 people in 1968-1969. Although he was 19 when he commited the crime, he was executed in 1997.

There was a case where (I forgot the prefecture!) some guy under 20 faked to be a public worker and gained enter inside a couple's home where he raped and killed the woman and strangled their baby (husband was at work). I remember seeing her husband pleading repeatedly on TV and ultimately the killer, although a minor at the time of the these horrible crimes, got convicted and was sentenced to death. What was the name of that monster? I bet he's still rotting in prison, huh.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I have a hard time referring to 18-year-olds as 男の子. To me they're 男の人. But as has been pointed out, Japan still considers people to be minors until age 20.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Good thing for them that according to Japanese law these 18 year olds are unable to think for or act on their own and they are children -- same as a three year old. They'll be out on the streets again in less time than it takes to question why the laws in Japan are so moronic -- doh! They're out!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

18 years old boys?? Something is not right with this, not just because it is the Japanese law, but because we must make young people understand that they will not get away with these crimes just because the stupid laws in Japan somehow still consider them minors, time to fix these stupid laws ASAP!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

To understand why JT prints it the way they do YOU have to be able to read the original Japanese article to judge whether or not the word boy/man or girl/woman was used.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@ Elbuda - I thought I could see where you were coming from, since I also agree!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Dear Burakumindesu, thanks, that was EXACTLY the point I wanted people here and JT to realize and 17 year old WOMAN?? Down in Osaka gets raped and strangled to death, 17 and JT calls her a WOMAN then in this next news 2 young punks, OLDER than 17 already 18, but JT calls them BOYS?? WTF???!!!??? Thanks for your opinion Dear Burakumindesu! I know a few Japanese politicians and would like to ask them what they think about these age laws here in Japan.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I think it is stupid to have these dorks, 18 year old be called boys, the Japanese laws need to be changed ASAP! Why do Japanese have to wait until age 20 to vote?? Who made this magic number?? As for younger criminals doing stupid things like this, my guess they come from messed up families, if they even have a family and well you sow what you reap right?? Maybe daddy is an alcoholic, womanizer, wastes what little $$$ he has on whores, drink, pachinko and what not, the poor kids grow up seeing this as their example of what to do later in life, next thing, they go robbing Sukiya or Yoshinoya or your local 7-11 etc..

-3 ( +1 / -3 )

In the eyes of the law, in Japan a 17 year old is not an adult but a "boy" or a "girl". End of story.

End of story? Hardly my friend, tell that to the "boys" that get charged as adults under JAPANESE law. The increase of violent crimes by younger and younger perpetrators forced the NPA to lower the age limit on charging juveniles on adult courts.

It is a case by case scenario.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Everyone knows that girls mature into women faster than boys into men.

In the eyes of the law, in Japan a 17 year old is not an adult but a "boy" or a "girl". End of story.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

For having fun and playing pachinko. So pachinko isn't fun? Finally some one said it right.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

When I was a teen and I wanted money, I looked for an arubaito... I wonder what lesson the two boys will learn from this. Will they decide to go to school, vocational or college, or become career criminals?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Commit the crime, do the time. Justice will be served.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think the point Elbuda was possibly making was that the media reported the death of a "17 year old woman" in a Love-Hotel room a few days ago...yet apparently these are "18 year old boys".

Everyone knows that girls mature into women faster than boys into men. Nice to see that someone can read other posters minds.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Capn - Har!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

ohh boy! .. ohh boys

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Two mewling infants arrested for robberies ? Preposterous ! Put them back in the crib before they catch cold, little angels.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Burakumin - Unfortunately you're not an adult with adult responsibilities until you're 21 here, lol.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

BTW - IMO trying these two men as "children" is preposterous.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I think the point Elbuda was possibly making was that the media reported the death of a "17 year old woman" in a Love-Hotel room a few days ago...yet apparently these are "18 year old boys".

1 ( +1 / -0 )

In the case of the two 18 year olds reading the Police boards and then considered that Sukiya was an easy place to rob,, which perhaps it was ,but they failed to consider the odds were against them getting away with it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Yubaru, thanks for your reply.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Gottchya Joe, thanks, and I agree with what you wrote in reply. It seems to me as well that there is an increasing number of late teens that have been getting involved with some very serious crimes. It is a reflection on the economy and changes in social values here that have made some of the difference as I see it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Yubaru

I wasn't referring to your remark at all. I commented since there are so many crimes commited by this age group (18-19) recently including murder.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

You can commit a murder in Japan at age 18-19 and can be executed for it . Nagayama Norio shot to death 4 people in 1968-1969. Although he was 19 when he commited the crime, he was executed in 1997.

Huge difference between robbery with no personal injury and murder. Yes they could be tried as adults as the laws here changed in that regard a number of years back, and if you'll notice I codified my remarks in that regard.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

You can commit a murder in Japan at age 18-19 and can be executed for it . Nagayama Norio shot to death 4 people in 1968-1969. Although he was 19 when he commited the crime, he was executed in 1997.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

They should be sentenced to wear shirts/jackets which read "I am a low-life thief."

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Hello, Does anybody sense if the crime rate has gone up in Japan since the earthquake tragedy? Thank you for any response.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

2 young MEN were arrested!! Not boys!! 18 is old too old not to understand that stealing is da me da me!! Very bad!! 2 young men and 2 young fools that must dumb as a box full of rocks!!

Like it or not in Japan an 18 year old is not considered an adult, whether they are young men or not this crime will more than likely not be prosecuted in criminal court but juvenile court.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I fought the law, and the law won...

0 ( +0 / -1 )

2 young MEN were arrested!! Not boys!! 18 is old too old not to understand that stealing is da me da me!! Very bad!! 2 young men and 2 young fools that must dumb as a box full of rocks!!

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

Unfortunately these two are going to, most likely, be charged as juveniles and not given any hard time for their crime. The crime will also be closed off their records when they "become of age".

Hopefully, I doubt it though, they will be charged and tried as adults but since they seem to have come clean and admitted to the crimes and their other plans as well the law will be more lenient with them.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Breakin' rocks in the hot sun...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The other side of the coin...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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